Question

Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): The Ramayana is considered to reflect an earlier stage of society, whereas the Mahabharata shows contact with mlecchas (foreigners/barbarians).
Reason (R): Because the architect of the Lakshagriha (house of lac) in the Mahabharata, named Purochana, is described as having mleccha connections or being an expert in mleccha languages.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• B. Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).
• C. (A) is correct but (R) is not correct.
• D. (A) is not correct but (R) is correct.

Hint:

The "Mleccha-vachah" conversation between Vidura and Yudhishthira is a famous literary instance showing the diversity of languages and the presence of non-Vedic groups in the Mahabharata's world.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The term 'Mleccha' in ancient Sanskrit literature refers to those who do not follow the Vedic culture or speak non-Sanskrit (Prakrit or foreign) languages. The presence of 'Mlecchas' in a text is often used by historians to date the text's composition relative to foreign invasions and interactions.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Assertion (A) is correct. The society in the Ramayana is largely focused on the internal regions of India and interactions with indigenous tribes (Vanaras, Nishadas). There is very little mention of trans-frontier groups. The Mahabharata, however, is a vast "encyclopedic" epic that mentions Yavanas (Greeks), Shakas (Scythians), and Pahlavas (Parthians). This indicates a period where the Indo-Aryan society had significant contact with foreign groups.
Reason (R) refers to a specific episode in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata. Purochana was the minister/architect sent by Duryodhana to build the 'house of lac' to kill the Pandavas. In the text, when Vidura warns Yudhishthira about the plot, he speaks in a "Mleccha" dialect (mleccha-vachah) so that others cannot understand. Later, it is mentioned that the person who assisted them in digging the escape tunnel was a "Khanaka" (miner) who was also a Mleccha.
The description of Purochana and the use of the Mleccha language for secret codes highlight that Mleccha elements had become part of the political and social fabric in the Mahabharata's era. This specific detail serves as an example and evidence for the broader claim in Assertion (A) that the Mahabharata reflects a more complex, multi-cultural, and later societal stage compared to the Ramayana. Thus, (R) explains (A).

Step 3: Final Answer:
The involvement of Mleccha characters and languages in key plot points of the Mahabharata supports the view of its later, more globally-connected social setting.